Posted on 12/31/2008 12:34:02 PM PST by hreardon
While the exact details are still being ironed out, Gov. Kulongoski's web page gives the basics of the plan. In it he states, "As Oregonians drive less and demand more fuel-efficient vehicles, it is increasingly important that the state find a new way, other than the gas tax, to finance our transportation system."
He is creating a task force "to partner with auto manufacturers to refine technology that would enable Oregonians to pay for the transportation system based on how many miles they drive." Key studies were performed in 2006 and 2007 that indicate that such a program would indeed be possible.
In the 2007 test which lasted 10 months with 300 motorists at two service stations, drivers were taxed 1.2 cents per mile and were refunded the 24 cents a gallon state gas tax. When the motorists got to the pump, their vehicles connected to government computers informing them of the mileage (calculated via GPS tracking) and issuing tax. Equipment for the test came from Oregon State University.
(Excerpt) Read more at dailytech.com ...
Keep in mind that when one looks into the future, we could be talking about hydrogen cars, too. And although I’m sure that taxes could be implemented “at the pump” there, too.
Perhaps they’re also thinking that with all the different kinds of fuels and vehicles that “mileage” might be the simplest one of all — all under “one roof”. That’s just a guess on my part. I don’t know that from reading it anywhere...
Oh, I agree, it would be far simpler to pay the tax and be done with it... LOL.. It was just a humorous “aside” and nothing much more than that.
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But, as far as recalling officials, I don’t know if a “different methodology” for assessing the so-called “gas tax” is reason for recalling officials. I mean, the tax is going to be paid anyway and roads certainly do need to be improved and kept up and major infrastructure repairs are needed (I think...). So, if the tax, in regards to our road infrastructure is going to take “x-amount of dollars” (whatever that is) — I wouldn’t think it would matter how it came to be collected — if it were going to be the same in one instance or the other.
By that, I mean — if you collect “x-dollars” at the pump for what you need — and in the other methodology, you collect those same “x-dollars” by means of the GPS-device — then it’s a “wash” — one way versus the other way.
Now, there are issues with the privacy angle, but from what I was reading, I guess they will make those devices so that they don’t transmit location but only mileage info. So, if that’s correct, then it wouldn’t be any more of a privacy issue than it would be when the DMV asks me for the mileage on my odometer (which they do at times).
Anyway, it’s a different methodology for collecting the tax — but — it’s not a different tax.
You said — “That is controlled by software - all it would take is a mandatory FOR THE CHILDREN update to enable it.”
Ummmm..., gas tax for the children? That one went right over my head... :-)
I mean, I know that there are various things out there in “law-land” (LOL...) which are done “for the children” — but I can’t imagine how gas tax would be applied to the children.
No. If you have a record of everyone’s movements you can make it easier to solve crimes.
Just imagine a weeping mother on the news calling for real time updates because her kid was kidnapped and found dead because the police could not locate the get away care quick enough.
Trust me, it ain't gonna be correct or enough for communists. It's incremental tightening with excuses galore.......law enforcement, tracking terrorists "only", etc.
Tracking and control would be the end of our beloved America with only one way to prevent it, period.
This make no sense. Par for the course from “Sleepy Ted”.
So what is wrong with the folks at DEQ just reading my odometer every two years when I have to take my car in for registration and emissions testing?
I know this is ‘for the roads’, but it is not like Oregon throws much of the money collected into improving the infrastructure, most of it goes to light rail and bike paths. And this isn’t fair to the progressives driving their Pri’i. They are doing their part to ‘save the planet’ and get dinged at the save rate per mile. Oh wait, that’s right, hybrid owners will get a rebate.
Free people travel on roads.
Drones and slaves use (proletarian) mass(es) transit.
The left loves drones and slaves.
As for filling your gas-cans instead of your fuel tank, that trick will work just fine.... right up until the day your park your pick-up at the pump and are greeted by a sign saying "Effective immediately, all fuel not dispensed directly into a vehicle tank is subject to a 3000% price surcharge."
Actually, I was thinking about siphoning it out of the vehicle at home... :-0
Well, they don't get as much information that way, which from their point of view is a problem. (Not from mine)
Not true. Road damage is highly dependent on axle weight, so the gas tax actually turns out to be a very fair funding arrangement.
Now Tax-n-gouge-me (the Governor) wants to use GPS to track us and tax us per mile. The Gas tax isn’t high enough, now he has to TRACK us too.
I HATE Democrats.
That’s entirely too close to the truth..........
Idaho is looking attractive, and Alaska. Alaska more so really.
Oregon is a police state... I’m getting ready to leave.
How is food delivered to the grocer?
I guess I have good reason to avoid Oregon at all cost.
Just $.02 a gallon? That’s worth it to not let the government know where I’ve been or how far I’ve traveled.
Under the guise of protecting consumers from odometer tampering.
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